Children in rural and remote areas will have better access to “life-saving” medical equipment under new funding provided by the Australian government.
The government is providing $100,000 to the Humpty Dumpty Foundation in 2021-22 to support its work to improve the care of children in rural and remote Australia.
Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt says the funding will help save and improve children’s lives.
“The health and wellbeing of children and young people is a priority for the government,” he says.
“This funding will positively impact the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous children in rural and remote areas of Australia by increasing their access to fit-for-purpose paediatric medical equipment.
“This investment will help meet community needs, including screening for iron deficiency in children by Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services, echo devices to screen for rheumatic heart disease, or specialist neonatal, paediatric, and adolescent education in health services and hospitals, in partnership with state and territory governments.”
Minister for Regional Health Dr David Gillespie says the coalition is committed to addressing the rising burden of chronic disease and to improving public health, no matter where people live or their circumstances.
“The Humpty Dumpty Foundation is a children’s charity celebrating more than 30 years of helping to save and improve the lives of sick and injured children in hospital,” he says.
“Its mission is to raise funds to provide essential and often life-saving medical equipment for hospitals in every corner of Australia, and I’m proud to be part of a government supporting them in this endeavour.”
To date, Humpty Dumpty is said to have provided medical equipment to paediatric wards, neonatal units, maternity and emergency departments at more than 440 hospitals and health services across Australia.
